TITLE:
Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils of San Francisco de Macorís and La Vega, Dominican Republic
AUTHORS:
Ramón Delanoy, Carime Matos Espinosa, Yamilesa Herrera
KEYWORDS:
Soil, Heavy Metals, Fluorescence X-Ray, Toxicity
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.10 No.10,
October
26,
2022
ABSTRACT: In Dominican Republic exists cultive larges fields of various
agricultural rubles. The largest extensions are rice, banana and cocoa; these are
located in the Cibao Valley. In the eastern, southwestern, and a small area in the
north of the country, sugar cane is cultivated. Heavy metals are found in many of
these soils that could be affecting the quality of agricultural products or production.
The levels of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Hg and Pb, determined by X-ray fluorescence
spectroscopy, in soils collected in two cultivation areas of Rice de La Vega and
San Francisco de Macoris (SFM) have been compared with the NOAA-USEPA Canadian Agricultural
Soil and Sediment Guide (CEQGs) (SQuiRTs Table). The levels of Cr and Ni in La Vega
exceeded the threshold effects levels (TEL), and the probable effects levels (PEL).
Pb levels in the La Vega area were higher than in SFM. In general, these metals
are found in the La Vega area in higher concentrations than in SFM, exceeding PEL
and TEL.